In the thirty-second year of Qin Shi Huang, midsummer, Xianyang City.

It was very early in the morning, outside the Mansion of the Marquis of Wugong, Zhao Tuo was saying goodbye to his wife and children.

Baiyue is high and far away, and it is thousands of miles away, and the environment is harsh, and it has almost become a desperate place in the eyes of the Qin people in Guanzhong.

This time Zhao Tuo went on an expedition, Yingyinyan, as his wife, was naturally full of worry and reluctance.

The two talked a lot last night, but when it came to parting, she still couldn't rest assured.

"The beloved is going, remember that there are still me and the child waiting for the beloved to return in this Xianyang City, and remember to put your own safety first."

Yingyinyan's eyes were slightly red, and she whispered while sorting out the armor on her body for Zhao Tuo.

Zhao Tuo held her hand and said with relief: "Don't worry, the land of Baiyue is not a Jedi for me, and it will only take some time to return." It's just that during this time, you have worked hard to take care of your two children. ”

"Father, I can't bear you."

At this time, Xiao Zhao Che was reluctant to accompany his father for a long time to leave, and he stretched out his little hand to pull Zhao Tuo's armor.

Xiao Zhao Yun next to him was still ignorant, and then shouted vaguely: "Father, father, reluctant." ”

Zhao Tuo smiled.

He lowered his body and hugged his son and daughter, and said to Zhao Che: "You have to take your sister well, and when I come back, bring some gifts to you." ”

Zhao Che was a child after all, his eyes lit up when he heard the gift, and he responded with a smile.

After saying goodbye to his family, Zhao Tuo turned over and got on his horse, and went straight out of the city with Han Xin, Li Shiqi and others who were waiting.

Behind him, a woman's reluctant voice was heard.

"Bo Xi is miserable, and the state is miserable. Bo also insisted on being the king's precursor. From the east of Bo, the first is like a flying canopy. Is there no anointing? Who's comfortable! Its rain and its rain, Gao Gao out of the sun. May I be willing to speak and be willing to be the first to ......"

Zhao Tuo's body trembled.

This is the sound of "Boxi", which begins with the praise of her husband as a hero of the state and the heroic deeds of the king. But the next few sentences are full of the woman's extremely longing voice, which is exactly the scene at this time.

Especially with the sound of the two children shouting "father", it adds a poignant parting.

He let out a long breath and said silently, "I hope this is the last expedition." ”

Horses' hooves gallop.

Zhao Tuo took the entourage and went straight to the outside of Xianyang City.

Because this time the situation was urgent, Zhao Tuo was going to take over the Qin army in charge of the expedition to Vietnam in order to deal with the dangerous situation.

Time was pressing, and there was no time to recruit troops to accompany him. The earliest reinforcements of the Qin State could not be gathered until the second half of the month, so this time Zhao Tuo went south and did not hold a large-scale oath-taking ceremony.

But the first emperor was outside Xianyang City, and sent Zhao Tuo with a group of ministers and hundreds of officials.

Since Qin Wangzheng ascended the throne as emperor, the sacredness and power of the monarch have been particularly inflated, and he has not personally sent the generals out to the expedition and greeted them for a long time, and these matters are basically handled by the crown prince and the prime minister.

This time, the First Emperor personally led hundreds of officials to see off Zhao Tuo here. It was the first time after reunification, which shows that he attached great importance to Zhao Tuo and this battle of conquering Vietnam.

Outside the city, heavily armed lieutenant troops lined up all around, and in the middle part there were brave and majestic Lang guards. The sky is full of black flags fluttering, spears and halberds are numerous, and it looks mighty and solemn.

And among the guards, the First Emperor, dressed in black clothes and wearing a crown of heaven, stood with his hands in his hands, his face calm.

Zhao Tuo walked in front of the First Emperor and bowed.

"Minister Zhao Tuo has been ordered by His Majesty to go south to conquer Vietnam, and he will definitely triumphantly play a victory, so as to raise the prestige of my Great Qin!"

On this occasion, Zhao Tuo naturally wanted to say some impassioned words.

The First Emperor's eyes moved.

He looked at the young general in front of him, dressed in delicate armor and wearing a mighty crown on his head.

Zhao Tuo's chin has grown a beard, and his demeanor is becoming more and more stable.

But in the mind of the First Emperor, he still couldn't help but think of the young man who said in the Qin palace twelve years ago, "The eldest husband lives in the world, is born as a marquis, and dies as a temple food".

That former scene made him remember the most.

"I am in Xianyang, waiting for Zhao Qing's triumph. At that time, when he returned victoriously, Zhao Qing should be my Great Qin Liehou and rule the world for me. ”

The First Emperor opened his mouth and uttered a surprising remark.

Zhao Tuo's brows jumped.

The ministers behind the emperor even had their own faces.

Liehou.

This is the way it should be.

Zhao Tuo was originally a nineteenth-level Lunhou, and if he defeated Baiyue this time, then his promotion to Liehou with his merits would definitely be safe and deserving, and it would not be surprising.

What really surprised the ministers was the first emperor's sentence of "ruling the world".

The word Zai is a common name for officials since the Zhou Dynasty.

The official positions of the Zhou Dynasty include Tsukasa Zai, Dazai, Xiaozai, Neizai, Lizai and so on.

The retainers of the princes and the governors of the provinces were also named after "Zai".

Therefore, the phrase of the first emperor ruling the world refers to the meaning of the prime minister.

The prime minister is the head of the hundred officials, which is equivalent to the official position of the left and right prime ministers of the current Qin State.

The First Emperor was promising the Marquis of Wugong that as long as he returned victoriously, he would not only be able to be knighted as a marquis, but also be crowned as the prime minister, and be in charge of the government for the First Emperor.

This promise is far more impactful than a liege's seal.

The marquis is a lord and represents status.

The prime minister is an official and represents power.

The two top things together, that is really the first person under the emperor.

Under one man, above ten thousand.

Even if Zhao Tuo's mind was calm, he couldn't help but be moved when he heard this at this moment.

If he wants to reform the system of the Qin State, he naturally has to have the corresponding power. In the past, the Shaofu could only meddle in the affairs of hundreds of work, and it seemed powerless for other political affairs.

Zhao Tuo was still thinking about his future reforms, and I was afraid that he would have to win the support of Wang Juan and others.

But what if he became prime minister himself?

That's really going to be able to show off your skills, and you don't have any scruples.

However, Zhao Tuo quickly calmed down.

The Emperor's trick!

After twelve years of contact, he had come to know the king's methods well.

The First Emperor likes to leak some benefits before letting you do something.

After shaking the benefits in front of you in advance, and causing your heart to stir, I can't wait to show twelve points of strength to do things well for him.

Before Zhao Tuo destroyed the dynasty and Qi, didn't he tempt him with a princess.

However, in the face of huge interests, there are still few people who can hold on.

Zhao Tuo took a deep breath and bowed his hand to the emperor: "The minister will do his best to not let His Majesty down." ”

At the same time, the right prime minister Wang Juan and the left prime minister Li Si, who were standing behind the first emperor, looked at each other in surprise.

The First Emperor promised Zhao Tuo that he would be prime minister when he returned victorious, that is, to replace one of the two of them.

Who could it be?

"If the Marquis of Wugong wants to conquer Baiyue, it will take several years at the earliest, I should behave well and let the emperor know my ability."

After Wang Juan and Li Si were surprised, they secretly encouraged themselves to not let themselves be eliminated.

After the promise is made.

The first emperor asked the crown prince Fusu to personally bring the wine.

"The prince and the prince will go to Baiyue, fight for the country, and help the Su and wish the prince and the prince to win the banner and triumph as soon as possible."

Fusu sent his blessings to Zhao Tuo, his eyes full of concern.

"Thank you, Prince."

At the moment of the emperor, Zhao Tuo naturally didn't dare to say much, and after thanking Fusu, he raised his glass and drank it.

Staying until the wine was down, Zhao Tuo looked at the king in front of him.

He is still tall and mighty, and under the black robe, he shows the bearing of the superior.

But if you look closely, you can see that the emperor's body is slightly rickety, there are many wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and the black hair exposed outside the crown of heaven is mixed with a little white.

The emperor is old.

Zhao Tuo took a deep breath, bowed to the emperor again, and said: "The ministers will go south, please take care of your body, and live forever." ”

The First Emperor was stunned for a moment, and then a smile filled the corner of his mouth, and his eyes softened and overflowed.

"I know, you can go."

"Minister, go."

Zhao Tuo raised his head and glanced deeply at the emperor again.

He got up to say goodbye to the ministers, and with a blessing, turned to leave.

Thousands of elite cavalry were already waiting here, heavily armed, and were going to escort and follow Wugong Hou south.

"I'll get out of my car, and I'll be in the pasture. Since the Son of Heaven, it is said that I have come. Summoning his servant is called a load. The king's affairs are difficult, and the maintenance is thorny......"

Majestic music resounded outside the city, an ode to the general's departure and triumph, full of the king's anticipation of victory.

While the war horse was galloping, Zhao Tuo turned around.

He watched Xianyang City gradually shrink, and the emperor and the hundred officials and ministers who sent him on the trip were slowly turning into vague figures.

The figure of the First Emperor gradually faded.

Zhao Tuo's heart was stunned and he muttered.

"Your Majesty, wait for me to come back."

(End of chapter)